In connection with a criminal case opened in 2019, former President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has again been prohibited from leaving Armenia, reported Republican Party of Armenia Vice‑President Armen Ashotyan in a Facebook live broadcast.
He noted that the authorities resorted to this step after the court twice rejected motions for such a travel ban.
The public prosecutors on November 5 had presented two motions requesting a travel ban in addition to an already‑applied bail measure in the case against Sargsyan. However, the court rejected those motions.
Ashotyan said: “We anticipated that the repressive apparatus of the Nikol‑era would take another step, which happened today. This afternoon, the president was summoned to one of the investigative offices and presented with a new absurd accusation to prevent him from leaving Armenia. With that accusation, Sargsyan is again under this obviously illegal political sanction.”
According to Ashotyan, the case launched in 2019 began when the investigative body obtained statements from businessman Mikayel Baghdasarov due to what was described as an incorrect translation. Later, when confronted with Sargsyan, Baghdasarov withdrew those statements, saying they had been recorded incorrectly because he spoke Russian.
Ashotyan emphasised that now, six years later, a new charge is being brought on the same episode, restricting Sargsyan’s movement rights. He added: “If the widely‑known 2019 episode contained grounds for prosecution, why was it not included in the 2025 case? If there was a basis, it was hidden, and if not, then it has now been fabricated.” Sargsyan’s name is mentioned in several criminal proceedings under two separate cases. One case, known as the “diesel case”, has been merged with another involving the second president’s son, Sedrak Kocharyan, and Baghdasarov. The other case consolidates charges of receiving a bribe from Silva Hambardzumyan and disposing of land on Isakov Avenue.
